Apparatus for extracting, stacking and discharging moulded cups, jars and similar from moulding apparatus

ABSTRACT

A device for moulding cups of synthetics material by means of an upper mould member and a reciprocable lower mould member is provided with an apparatus for extracting, stacking and discharging moulded cups for the moudling apparatus. The apparatus has a suction nozzle, which, when horizontal, attaches itself by suction to the wall of a cup on the upper part after lowering of the lower mould part. A pneumatic jack moves the nozzle backwards away from the mould and simultaneously, a cam slot causes a tube mounting the nozzle to rotate about the tube axis so as to swing the nozzle into a vertical position. This action swings the cup into a horizontal position and begins to insert the cup into the open end of what was hitherto the last cup in a horizontal row (a stack on its side). The cup is released from the nozzle by cutting off the suction. As the lower mould part rises in a new moulding operation, the movement pivots an arm which moves a pusher bar back to pack the last formed cup into the horizontal stack. Each reciprocation of the lower mould part actuates a counting device which upon counting a prescribed number of cup moulding operations causes another pusher to be pneumatically lifted through a slot in a plate supporting the horizontal stack and be moved pneumatically along the slot to push the horizontal stack away.

United States Patent [1 1 Badoux et al.

[76] Inventors: Daniel Badoux; Robert Carry, both of Decines, France[22] Filed: June 19, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 263,853

[ Nov. 20, 1973 [5 7 ABSTRACT A device for moulding cups of syntheticsmaterial by means of an upper mould member and a reciprocable lowermould member is provided with an apparatus for extracting, stacking anddischarging moulded cups for the moudling apparatus. The apparatus has asuction nozzle, which, when horizontal, attaches itself by suction tothe wall of a cup on the upper part after lowering of the lower mouldpart. A pneumatic jack moves the nozzle backwards away from the mouldand [52] US. Cl 425/388, 214/l.4, 214/6.5,

425/437 425 M5 5 simultaneously, a cam slot causes a tube mounting the[51] Int Cl B2'9c 17/04 nozzle to rotate about the tube axis so as toswing the [58] Field 455 nozzle into a vertical position. This actionswings the 6 214/1 2 6 cup into a horizontal position and begins toinsert the cup into the open end of what was hitherto the lasthorizontal row (a stack on its side). The cup [56] References Cited F ma 1 1s released from the nozzle by cutting off the suction. UNITEDSTATES PATENTS As the lower mould part rises in a new moulding oper-3,153,262 10/1964 Steketee 425/455 x ation, the movement pivots an whichmoves a 3,161,915 12/1964 Th1e1 425/388 X usher bar back to pack thelast formed cup into the 522 horizontal stack. Each reciprocation of thelower 3 454 991 7/1969 Rees 225/437 X mould part actuates a countingdevice which upon 3,591,903 7/1971 BOWIQS II... 1:: 425 455 x counting aPrescribed "umber cup "mulding Opera- 3 593 377 7 1 Edwm-ds 425 I45 5 Xtions causes another pusher to be pneumatically lifted 3,605,192 9/ 1971Edwards 425/437 X F gh a slot in a plate supporting the horlzontal3,700,375 10/1972 Rees 425/455 X stack and be moved pneumatically alongthe slot to push the horizontal stack away. Primary Examiner-Robert L.Spicer, Jr. Attorney-Arthur E. Dowell, Jr. et al. 9 Chums 7 Dnwmgfigures 5 8 4 6 20a 045 3 1 Q1 19 I: I i Ir ':Z'-

13 5a. '18 a 1 3 I 5 t \4 1 3 3a .2 as

31" 35 36 47 3 3o T r (I J APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING, STACKING ANDDISCHARGING MOULDED CUPS, JARS AND SIMILAR FROM MOULDING APPARATUS Thisinvention relates to the manufacture of hollow articles such as cups,jars, and other similar packaging articles of substantially cylindricalshape.

It is known that articles of this type are frequently 1 produced byinjecting, blowing, or shaping an appropriate synthetic material undervacuum. The shaping mould generally comprises several impressions and itis arranged so as to release the articles when the two parts of themould open. In current practice, the articles which are removed fromtheir moulds are moved along either mechanically or pneumatically(current of compressed air) and they are collected in disorderly fashionin any appropriate receptacle. The articles thus collected must then beplaced manually one inside the other in order to form stacks comprisedby a predetermined number of articles, these stacks are then arranged incontainers or other means for transportation. It will be understood thatthe nampower necessary for removing the articles from the receptacle,for stacking them and for counting them is considerable, so that itactually slows down the manufacturing process, and therefore increasesthe cost.

With a view to removing this drawback, an object of the invention is toprovide apparatus intended to be associated with a machine for themanufacture of hollow articles of the aforesaid type, which installationis arranged in such a way as to remove the articles when the mouldopens, to insert them one in the other and to discharge them in the formof stacks comprisinga predetermined number of articles, all theseoperations taking place entirely automatically without any manualoperations.

The apparatus according to the invention comprises in combinationextraction means having suction means capable of grasping the articlesreleased from the mould, of changing the orientation of the articles andof depositing the articles on a receiving plate in a condition in whichthey are partially inserted into each other, stacker means having analternating motion provided in such a way as to axially push back thearticle previously deposited on the plate by the extraction means inorder to fully engage it in the stack, which is simultaneously movedback, and discharge means comprising retractable abutments associatedwith drive means for longitudinal motion with a view to moving thestacks thus obtained longitudinally when the latter comprise apre-determined number of articles.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the extraction meanscomprises a hollow shaft, the internal space of which is simultaneouslyconnected to a source of suction and to a series of radial suction meansintended to be brought into the immediate vicinity of the wall of thearticles. This shaft is displaced transversely and it comprises a crankengaged in a profiled ramp in such a manner as to cause said shaft topivot during its transverse displacement, the suction effect stoppingautomatically when articles are placed on the receiving plate.

The stacker means is advantageously controlled by the moving part of themould. It comprises a swinging arm able to be located above thereceiving plate and radially integral with a crank secured to theopening part of the mould.

The discharge means preferable comprises a series of pneumatic jacksequal in number to that of the stack obtained on the plate. These jacksare mounted on a moving cross member forming a carriage, the arrangementbeing controlled such that once each stack comprises the desired numberof articles, the jacks project above the receiving plate and areconsequently displaced longitudinally with respect to the latter inorder to discharge the aforesaid stacks.

The accompanying drawings illustrate, by way of example, one embodimentof the apparatus formed according to the invention;

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side view thereof in partial longitudinalsection, it being assumed that the apparatus is associated with amachine for shaping under vacuum for the manufacture of cups;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of FIG. I, partly in section;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are side views partially reproducing FIG. 1, at the timeof two different stages of the operating process;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the general arrangement of theapparatus;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the device intended for the pneumaticcontrol of the extraction suction devices;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the discharge device.

In FIGS. 1 to 4 it is assumed that the apparatus illustrated isassociated with a machine for the manufacture of cups a by shaping astrip or ribbon of synthetics material under vacuum. The mould comprisesa stationary upper part 1 and a mobile lower part 2, the latter beingintegral with a plate 3 slidably mounted on two vertical pillars 4 andappropriately controlled in its reciprocating motion. The strip,indicated by reference 5, is unwound continuously and passes over ahollow heating drum 6 supplied through a conduit 7, said drum beingsupported at its ends by two vertical arms 8 secured at their bases toside plates 9. This strip 5 is introduced between the parts 1 and 2 ofthe mould, which comprises four shaping impressions; the moving part 2is provided with an extraction mechanism such that when the mould isopen as shown in FIG. 3, the four cups a are located above the part 2,the cups being simply supported at their base.

In the first place the apparatus comprises an extraction deviceconstituted by a tubular shaft 10 extending horizontally, transverslywith respect to the direction of displacement of the strip 5. As shownmore particularly in FIG. 5, this shaft 10 is supported by two lateralbearings 11 integral with slides 12; each slide 12 is mounted on ahorizontal rod or guide 13 provided inside the corresponding side-plate9. The two slides 12 are connected to each other by a stirrup l4directed parallel to the shaft 10 and the central part of which issecured to a moving member 15 of a double acting pneumatic jack 16,which is intended to effect the alternating displacement of theaforesaid shaft. The jack 16 is secured in cantilever fashion to a crossmember 17 which connects the two side-plates 9.

The ends of the shaft 10 project beyond the bearings 1 1 and are engagedin apertures 9a of the side plates 9. One of these projecting ends isangularly integral with a radial crank 18 the free end of which supportsa roller 19; the latter is introduced with reduced clearance inside anaperture or curved ramp 20a cut out in a lateral side member 20connected to the outside of the corresponding side plate 9. The oppositeend of the shafts 10 is connected to a flexible pipe 21 which isconnected to a low pressure container or other appropriate source ofsuction. Between the two bearings 11, the tubular shaft 10 is providedwith four radial suction devices 22. It will also be noted that thisshaft is equally provided with a vacuum-breaking mechanism 23 intendedfor controlling the suction devices 22, and the arrangement of which isillustrated in detail in FIG. 6.

As shown in this figure, this mechanism 23, comprises a rocking valve 24provided with a gasket 25. This valve 24 is pivoted at 260 to a part 26integral with the shaft 10, which has a lateral cut-out and is arrangedin such a way as to provide a cylindrical lateral extension 10a forminga seating for the above mentioned gasket 25. The control of the valve 24is ensured by abutment against a threaded rod 27 secured in adjustablemanner to the cross member 17.

The operation of the above described extraction device is easilyunderstood. In FIG. 3 the shaft 10 is in its most advanced position inwhich the free end of the suction devices 22 is substantially in contactwith the cups a released by the mould 1, 2. The reduced pressure effectprevailing inside the shaft 10 keeps the valve 24 and the gasket 25against the seat 10a such that due to suction the suction devices graspthe four cups a. At this moment the jack l6 begins to contract, in sucha way that the shaft 10 displaces towards the rear. Nevertheless, and asillustrated in FIG. 4, the ramp 20a controls the crank 18 of this shaft10 which rotates about itself; at the end of the stroke of the jack 16the suction devices 22 are thus orientated in a substantially verticalmanner above a receiving plate 28 provided below the cross member 17.Since simultaneously the rod 27 supported by this cross member hascaused the valve 24 to open, the reduced pressure effect ceases at theend of the suction devices 22 such that the latter release the cups awhich are collected by the plate 28. The jack 16 returns the shaft 10 toits advanced position, said shaft pivoting under the effect of the ramp20a and crank 18; the extraction device is thus ready for a newoperating cycle.

The apparatus also comprises a stacker mechanism which is constituted byan arm 29 (FIG. in the form of a stirrup the ends of which are fixed ona lower shaft 30 supported by bearings 31 integral with two front sidemembers 28a of the plate 28. Keyed on the shaft 30 is an arm or crank 32provided at its end with a roller 33 which is introduced with reducedclearance into a slide 3a (FIG. 1) provided at the base of the plate 3.

It will be understood that under these circumstances the verticalalternating displacement of the plate 3 causes the swinging of the shaft30 and of the stacker arm 29; the latter is designed in such a way thatit comes to be located above the plate 28 whilst gently pushing the cupa which has been removed, towards the rear. During the general operationof the arrangement, the cups a successively removed as they are formedare deposited on the plate 28 by the suction devices 22 which, due totheir swinging movement, partially engages them in each other.Immediately after the return of the suction devices 22 the stacker arm29 pushes the cups towards the rear so as to completely insert them ineach other and to produce horizontal stacks a directed parallel to eachother on the plate 28.

These stacks a are held on the plate 28 by means of longitudinal guides34 appropriately spaced transverse ly with respect to each other.Between these guides 34 the plate 28 is provided with axial grooves 28binside each of which there is engaged the moving member 35a of asmallpneumatic jack 35 directed vertically. The four jacks 35 aresupported by a cross member 36 equipped with rollers 37 which co-operatewith longitudinal rails 38, the arrangement 36,37 constituting in thisway a carriage which displaces below the plate 28. In the contractedposition (FIGS. 1 and 3) the moving members 35a are located insidegrooves 28b without projecting above the aforesaid plate. The carriage36,37 is controlled longitudinally in its reciprocating motion by apneumatic jack 39,40 the moving member 39 of which is appropriatelysecured to the cross piece 36.

With the plate 3 of the mould there is associated a feeler memberreferred to at 3' which actuates a counting mechanism 3", which controlsthe supply of the jacks 35 and jacks 39,40. In these circumstances, whenthe stacks a comprise the desired number of cups 0 in the first plate,the counting mechanism causes the jack 35 to extend, such that themembers 35a rise above the grooves 28b (vertical stroke w-x of FIG. 7).Immediately afterwards the jack 39,40 is caused to retract (horizontalstroke x-y) which has the effect of moving the stacks a backwards in themanner illustrated in FIG. 4. These stacks may be removed manually inorder to be placed directly in conveying devices. At the end of thestroke of the jack 39,40, the jacks 35 are caused to retract (strokey-z) then the jack 39,40 is itself caused to extend stroke (z-w) inorder to return the carriage 36,37 to the advanced position, without themoving members 35a, banging into the cups a which have meanwhile beendeposited by the suction devices 22 on the plate 28.

Finally, it will be understood that all the operations for removing thecups a, for stacking the latter to form stacks a and for discharging thelatter from the machine, are carried out entirely automatically withoutany manual operations.

It will be understood that other mechanisms for the pneumatic control ofsuction devices 22 may be provided.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for the extraction, stacking and discharge, as they aremanufactured, of hollow articles such as cups, jars and similarpackaging articles produced by moulding synthetics material, comprisingin combination extraction means having suction means able to grasp thearticles released from the mould, of changing the orientation of thearticles and of depositing the articles on a receiving plate in acondition in which they are partially inserted in each other, stackermeans having an alternating motion arranged in such a way as to axiallypush back the article previously deposited on the plate by theextraction means in order to fully insert the article in the stack whichis simultaneously moved back and discharge means comprising retractableabutments associated with drive means for longitudinal motion with aview to displacing the stacks obtained longitudinally when the lattercomprise a predetermined number of articles.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the extraction meanscomprises a hollow shaft, the internal space of which is connected to asource of suction and to a plurality of radial suction means intended tobe brought into the immediate vicinity of the wall of the articlesreleased from the mould.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a transverse reciprocatingmotion is imparted to the hollow shaft and comprising a radial crankengaged in a profiled ramp in such a way as to cause said shaft to pivotduring its displacement, the suction effect ceasing when this shaft isat the end of its return stroke.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein bearings supporting thehollow shaft are supported by slides mounted on horizontal guides, theseslides being connected to each other by a transverse stirrup to whichthe control member is secured.

5. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the internal space of thehollow shaft is connected to the atmosphere through a rocking valvecontrolled by a stationary rod which bears against the aforesaid valvewhen the hollow shaft arrives at the end of its return stroke.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein thepneumatic jacks aresupported by a moving cross member, provided in the manner of a carriagecontrolled longitudinally in its reciprocating motion.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the retractable abutmentsand the means for longitudinal motion which are associated with them areplaced under the control of a counting mechanism actuated at the time ofeach of the reciprocating strokes of the moving part of the mould.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE- CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION patent No,3,773,457 Dated November 20, 1973 Inventor(s) DANIEL BADOUX ET AL It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the heading of the patent (first column) between lines 8 and 9insert:

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data:

June 21, 1971 France No. 71.23550 Signed and sealed this 23rd day rApril'l97l4.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD ILFLETGHERJRQ C. MARSHALL DANN Commissioner of Patents Atte stingOfficer

1. An apparatus for the extraction, stacking and discharge, as they aremanufactured, of hollow articles such as cups, jars and similarpackaging articles produced by moulding synthetics material, comprisingin combination extraction means having suction means able to grasp thearticles released from the mould, of changing the orientation of thearticles and of depositing the articles on a receiving plate in acondition in which they are partially inserted in each other, stackermeans having an alternating motion arranged in such a way as to axiallypush back the article previously deposited on the plate by theextraction means in order to fully insert the article in the stack whichis simultaneously moved back and discharge means comprising retractableabutments associated with drive means for longitudinal motion with aview to displacing the stacks obtained longitudinally when the lattercomprise a pre-determined number of articles.
 2. An apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the extraction means comprises a hollow shaft, theinternal space of which is connected to a source of suction and to aplurality of radial suction means intended to be brought into theimmediate vicinity of the wall of the articles released fRom the mould.3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a transverse reciprocatingmotion is imparted to the hollow shaft and comprising a radial crankengaged in a profiled ramp in such a way as to cause said shaft to pivotduring its displacement, the suction effect ceasing when this shaft isat the end of its return stroke.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 3wherein bearings supporting the hollow shaft are supported by slidesmounted on horizontal guides, these slides being connected to each otherby a transverse stirrup to which the control member is secured.
 5. Anapparatus according to claim 2, wherein the internal space of the hollowshaft is connected to the atmosphere through a rocking valve controlledby a stationary rod which bears against the aforesaid valve when thehollow shaft arrives at the end of its return stroke.
 6. An apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the stacking means comprises a swingingarm integral with a shaft on which is keyed a crank controlled by thevertical displacement of the moving part of the mould.
 7. An apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein each of the retractable abutments of thedischarge means is constituted by a moving part of a pneumatic jack,which part is engaged in a longitudinal groove of the receiving plate.8. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the pneumatic jacks aresupported by a moving cross member, provided in the manner of a carriagecontrolled longitudinally in its reciprocating motion.
 9. An apparatusaccording to claim 7, wherein the retractable abutments and the meansfor longitudinal motion which are associated with them are placed underthe control of a counting mechanism actuated at the time of each of thereciprocating strokes of the moving part of the mould.